|
 The streaming company suspended production
earlier this week of the upcoming sixth and final season of the
political intrigue drama, in which Spacey plays U.S. president
Frank Underwood.
"Netflix will not be involved with any further production of
'House of Cards' that includes Kevin Spacey," the company said
in a statement late on Friday.
Spacey's publicist cut ties with him on Thursday and it was not
known who currently represents him.
His departure may not mean the end of the show, however.
"While we continue the ongoing investigation into the serious
allegations concerning Kevin Spacey’s behavior on the set of
'House of Cards,' he has been suspended, effective immediately,"
Media Rights Capital, the company that produces the show, said
in a statement.
"MRC, in partnership with Netflix, will continue to evaluate a
creative path forward for the program during the hiatus," it
said.
The Netflix statement also said the company will work with MRC
to determine the show's future.
Spacey, who has had a successful career in film, television and
theater, is one of several big names in the entertainment
business to be accused of sexual misconduct by people coming
forward in the wake of allegations against movie producer Harvey
Weinstein.
Spacey apologized last weekend to actor Anthony
Rapp, who had accused him of trying to seduce him in 1986 when
Rapp was 14. CNN reported on Thursday that eight current and
former employees of "House of Cards," who were not identified,
alleged sexual misconduct against Spacey.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm any of the
accusations.
[to top of second column] |
Spacey, as part of his apology to Rapp, announced he was gay, which
angered many in the LGBT community and beyond who saw his
announcement as an effort to divert attention from the accusation by
Rapp.
Spacey has sought evaluation and treatment, his representatives said
in a statement on Wednesday, without providing details on the nature
of the treatment.
The announcement that he would seek treatment followed harassment
allegations against him this week by Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos,
who worked in the London theater where Spacey was artistic director
from 2004-2015, and U.S. filmmaker Tony Montana.
MRC said in a statement on Thursday it had handled one incident in
2012 in which a crew member it did not identify "shared a complaint
about a specific remark and gesture made by Kevin Spacey" and that
immediate action had been taken and the issue was resolved.
It said Spacey had "willingly participated in a training process"
and that it was not aware of any complaints since then involving the
actor.
Netflix's move to cut ties with Spacey went beyond "House of Cards."
The company will not release the film "Gore," which was in
post-production and was produced by Spacey, its statement said.
Spacey plays the late writer Gore Vidal.
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Additional reporting by Lisa
Richwine in Los Angeles; Editing by Mary Milliken and Paul Tait)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
